Council backs ‘no place for hate’ campaign

As part of its No Place for Hate campaign, St Helens Council has announced that it is supporting a national campaign that aims to strengthen good interfaith relations, and increase awareness of different and distinct faith communities.

Interfaith Week provides an opportunity to increase an understanding between people of religious and non-religious beliefs – and celebrate the work faith members contribute to their neighbourhoods and wider society.

To show its support to the campaign, St Helens Council will fly the ‘St Helens No Place for Hate’ flag above the town hall during the week, run a social media campaign by posting daily messages, and encourage residents to get involved by posting selfies holding downloadable ‘Stand Up for One Another’ posters and tagging the St Helens Council twitter account, @StHelensCouncil.

Interviews with local faith representatives from the Iman Trust, Street Pastor Organisation and with a local Unitarian Minister will also be posted on St Helens Council’s Safer Communities website (www.safersthelens.org.uk/IFW) and social media channels to celebrate the differences and similarities between different religions.

Coun Lisa Preston, cabinet member for community safety, said: “I’m proud to be supporting this campaign, which comes at a significant time of year on the back of Remembrance Sunday events when our fallen servicemen women of all faiths and religions are remembered.

“Interfaith Week allows us to come together to celebrate and acknowledge religion diversity in our borough, and I would encourage residents to get involved by showing their support to reaffirm the message that there is no place for hate here in St Helens.”

To download your ‘Stand Up for One Another’ poster to show your support to the campaign, please visit www.safersthelens.org.uk/IFW and tag the council in your tweet using the hashtag #StandUpForOneAnother